Gabriola Historical and Museum Society: Mission

Sign at proposed Silva Bay site

Opening day crowd

Fundraising

Marijke, Vera and Digby at Gabriola Days

10th anniversary celebration

Beach walk at Orlebar

The Gabriola Historical and Museum Society was incorporated as a non-profit British Columbia Society in 1986. A tireless group of volunteers raised funds and began construction of the Gabriola Museum in 1994, culminating in its grand opening Saturday, September 16, 1996.

The mission of the Museum Society is:

To promote, foster and develop the interests of the residents of Gabriola Island, its visitors and other institutions, in the Island's past, present and future cultural and natural history.
To tell the story of Gabriola Island through special exhibits, displays, lectures, presentations and tours. This story includes the Island’s geology, geography, flora fauna and marine environment, as well as the Islands history, emphasizing the way in which Coast Salish people, European explorers, post-contact pioneers and recent inhabitants have related it its natural setting and earlier history.
To acquire by any legal means, donations or purchases of lands, artifacts or other items that will serve the Society’s interests and purposes.

The Museum Society is run by a volunteer Board of Directors who are elected by members of the Society at the Annual General Meeting in February. The current members of Board of Directors were elected February 12, 2012.

The Gabriola Historical and Museum Society is proud to work with local residents, organizations and businesses in preserving the Island’s unique history.

Some of our partners include:

Gabriola Chamber of Commerce
Gabriola Lions' Club
Friends of the Library
Gabriola Elementary School – tours, workshops, curriculum-based studies
Landowners – research-based studies
Other community agencies – GROWLS, GALTT, etc.
RDN staff
Islands Trust
Various Museums and Historical Societies and Associations
Archaeologists, anthropologists, geologists and historians
Local real estate agents

A display in its own right: Gabriola Brickyard
bricks donated for Museum construction

Opening of Joined Hands exhibit

Wildlife Diorama

Dr. Jean Clottes discussing the petroglyphs with interested Gabriolans

Geology display

Logging on Gabriola in the early 20th Century